It’s an action-packed weekend with the Big Ten, ACC, and SEC championship football games happening. NFL Week 15 takes place on Sunday while all the big time soccer teams are in action. Also, on Saturday, Canelo Alvarez returns to the ring versus undefeated Callum Smith. Check out the top sports events happening on Saturday and Sunday!
Top Sports Events for This Weekend – Dec. 19 – Dec. 20
- When: Friday, Dec. 19 – Sunday, Dec. 20
Saturday, Dec. 19
Soccer
Everton versus Arsenal should be a very good match. The top match, though, happens in the Bundesliga when Bayern Munich takes on Leverkusen. Bayern has had trouble against Leverkusen in the past. While your at it, stick with the Bundesliga and check out Hoffenheim against Monchengladbach. Gladbach is an underdog to win the Champions League. Hoffenheim is an underdog to win the Europa League.
UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal
15-4-1 Stephen Thompson is only a slight underdog against 13-2 Geoff Neal. Thompson has a 2-inch height advantage, but Neal has won 7 in a row while Thompson has lost 3-of-5. Neal may represent overlay odds if the -120 holds.
Boxing: Canelo vs. Callum Smith
Talk about physical advantages! Callum Smith is 6’ 3”. Canelo is 5’ 8”. Alvarez has a 70-inch reach. Callum has a 78-inch reach. Will Smith use his advantages to pull off the major upset?
NBA Preseason
Charlotte at Orlando, Detroit at Washington, and Atlanta at Memphis are the three games that will close out the NBA Preseason. The regular season starts on Tuesday, December 22. The Golden State Warriors take on Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and the Brooklyn Nets in the early game. Kawhi, Paul George and the Clippers battle LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Lakers in Tuesday’s late game.
College Basketball
Luka Garza and the #3 Iowa Hawkeyes head to the Great Northwest to battle Jalen Suggs, Corey Kispert, Drew Timme and the first-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs. If any team can contain the 30 points per game Garza, it’s the Zags. Zags-Hawkeyes is a must watch.
Other Saturday matchups include #23 Louisville at #12 Wisconsin, and #22 North Carolina at unranked Kentucky.
College Football Week 16
It’s Championship Saturday in college football! #1 Alabama takes on #7 Florida in the SEC Championship, #14 Northwestern battles #4 Ohio State in the Big Ten title game while #3 Clemson takes on #2 Notre Dame in the ACC Championship. Also pay attention to #5 Texas A&M against Tennessee. If Ohio State loses to Northwestern, or even wins without impressing, Texas A&M could get the call as the fourth team in the College Football Playoff.
Sunday, Dec. 20
Soccer
Leicester City versus Tottenham highlight’s Sunday’s top soccer action. Over in Serie A, Inter Milano versus Spezia, Atalanta against AS Roma, and Lazio hosting Napoli are three intriguing matches.
College Basketball
The top early game has #13 Illinois heading to New Jersey to battle #19 Rutgers. 6’ 8” freshman point-guard Cade Cunningham leads the 6-1 Oklahoma State Cowboys versus 11-ranked Texas. Cunningham is the top-rated NBA prospect for next year’s draft. Make sure to check out Cade and the Cowboys on Sunday.
NFL Week 15
Seattle at Washington is the best early matchup. Can Russell escape the WFT defensive line led by Montez Sweat and Chase Young?
The best afternoon battle has Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs traveling to the Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Saints. Drew Brees will start on Sunday, which means we can watch a quarterback duel between two future hall of fame players. Chiefs-Saints should be fantastic football.
Have a great weekend!